The Running School is a new and comprehensive coaching and training methodology, which teaches adults and children efficient and effective running biomechanics, balance and form. We have used our combined experience in the fitness industry to develop modules which teach recreational runners from 8 years old and upwards how to run more effectively, efficiently, more likely to avoid common sports and running injuries and to run faster.

We have developed a franchise package for entrepreneurial individuals who would like to start their own fitness business or for existing gym, leisure club and running shop operators, to add the Running School to their current offering to leverage their client base, act as a differentiator from the competition and add a significant new stream of revenue as well as providing a great service to the general public.

Market Potential

Most people have not been taught how to run; they assume it’s something that comes naturally. But running is a skill and just like any other skill it can be learned. Although it seems the most natural thing in the world to do, the majority of people don’t know how to run efficiently to achieve their goal or challenge without getting injured. 

Sport and fitness in general are becoming increasingly popular across the UK. With your own Running School business, the potential market for running and speed is vast and not just confined to existing runners as this also attracts adults and children who want to learn how to run from scratch. It is estimated that in the western world, an average of 7-10% of the population (that’s over 5 million in the UK alone!) are involved in running and this doesn’t even include children so the potential market is huge.

 Training

We believe that only fully supporting our franchisees will achieve the best results for The Running School brand; therefore as a franchisee within our network you will receive training in all aspects of The Running School Business Franchise. You will be trained to in the use of our motion analysis software to determine clients’ biomechanics, taught our proven methodology including how to coach Running School techniques, sales and marketing techniques and campaigns to promote your business’ various services.

 As part of the Franchise fee, you will receive:

• Your own exclusive territory
• 8 Days of Training
• Proprietary Motion Analysis Software
• The Running School Website
• Sales and Marketing Plan
• Marketing Material
• Training and Coaching manuals
• Ongoing Training programmes
• Business Pack
• On-going support
   
  
  Produced by Franchise Direct UK & Ireland

For more information and to request a franchise information pack please contact us now!

Following a year of spectacular growth, children’s physical activity specialists Sports Xtra are pleased to announce further expansion of their franchise network thanks to the hard work and success of their recruitment partner Acuminate.  

In the last quarter of 2010 an additional 11 new regional franchisees were appointed in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Essex, Hampshire, Manchester, Wiltshire and South Wales.  

The new franchisees underwent training in December and January and moved into launch phase immediately to capitalise on the ever expanding market in the children’s physical activity sector. 

“We are delighted that demand for our proven franchise continues” commented Gareth Lippiatt, founder and CEO of Sports Xtra “helped by our recruitment partner Acuminate, we have been able to expand the network ahead of budget in 2010 and the early months of 2011 have been equally as strong. Since the recession kicked in, coaching has been the second fastest growing sector with over 23,000 new jobs created in the last two years and the growth of our business has reflected that. Our head office has also created almost 400 coaching jobs in the last year, each of whom has been placed with a franchisee. How many businesses are growing at that rate in the current climate!”

Having only launched their first franchisee in September 2008, thanks largely to Acuminate; Sports Xtra already boasts a network of over 30 franchisees across the country and continue to strengthen their grip on the market in the drive to capitalise on the build up to the Olympic Games in 2012.

We are pleased to announce the launch of our Franchisee Aptitude Assessment service. Aimed at franchisors across all sectors, this proven and scientifically validated psychometric assessment is used specifically to assess potential franchisee’s personality and attitudes towards franchising.

Why assess potential franchisees?

People come to franchising for a number of reasons and from a variety of backgrounds and just because someone has been in sales, general management of even if they have run their own business before – this doesn’t necessarily make them good franchisees. Their attitude towards franchising is paramount, for example; will they follow the proven business model? Will they accept that they need (and are happy) to pay a monthly management service fee? Do they have the self confidence and a positive mindset?

By using this Franchisee Aptitude Assessment service, franchisors can go a long way to guarding against franchisee failure by identifying candidates’ personality and attitudes as it relates to franchising as well as identifying their strengths and limitations.

More…..

Children’s Physical Activity Experts to Create 300 jobs and provide their franchisees with FREE coaching staff for 6 months!

Who is it for?

It will come as no suprise that Franchising isn’t for everyone! There are many who believe that you need to be an entrepreneur in order to be successful – not so! In fact it could be be a disadvantage if you are to run a “proven business model” where deviation from the model could spell disaster. While it’s true you need a certain grasp of commercial issues (but then why would you get involved in running your own business if you didn’t) and you also need to follow the “system” and not doing so is probably the biggest reason franchisees fail. Can you imagine a true entrepreneur taking on a McDonalds franchise and starting to offer something that wasn’t on the menu, something that hadn’t been tried and tested, or producing and selling “fat” chips? It is frequently said that McDonalds don’t necessarily make the best burgers in the world but what they do; is offer a consistent quality or food and an experience that just works!

A franchise is for someone who is prepared to invest in their future, who is prepared to follow a successful business model and be prepared to put in the effort, particulary in the early days, to get the business off the ground.

Choose carefully

There are probably close to 1000 franchises operating in the UK currently and so there’s plenty of choice. Most successful franchisees are those who have a general interest in the business sector they go in to. For example; if you are interested in finance and book keeping then an accountancy franchise might be right for you; if you have experience in the motor trade and an interest in cars in general then a car rental franchise might suit; if you have an interest in sport then a sports coaching franchise might be for you.

So what does it cost?

Franchise License costs vary considerably depending on the type and the potential returns. You will pay an initial fee to set you up and provide intial training for the proven business format. Normally the franchise fee will include an exclusive area or stipulate that another franchise can’t be established within a certain distance and others where exclusivity is not applicable – have you seen how many Costas have been opened recently; often within a few hundred yards of one another and have you also seen how busy they all are?

As well as the original franchise fee you will pay continuing fees for the support that will keep you in business earning profits in the sector that you’re in and sometimes there are national marketing levies (as a small percentage of turnover) which go to providing high level marketing activities that an individual franchisee couldn’t afford on his or her own.

So what about the future?

As well as provide you with a great opportunity to build a business which could produce significant income over and above the traditional “job”; owning and running a franchise also provides an excellent opportunity to build something of real value. A franchise is like any other business in this respect; the more profitably it trades the more value it has and when you want to sell it (whether that’s simply to go on to do something else or retire); you can – although the purchaser would have to be acceptable to the franchisor and you would probably have to pay to have them trained.

To find out more about franchising or to discuss any of the opportunities we have available please call us on 0845 643 5725 or contact us by completing our enquiry form

So what about the risks? In the same news piece yesterday, Mark Owen of the Federation of Small Business talked of the financial and family pressure these new “entrepreneurs” would be under to perform to make sure sufficient revenue was forthcoming before the money runs out.

Obviously there are risks involved with starting any new business but these risks can be lowered significantly by using an established and proven business model where full training on the product or service is provided as well as the excellent advice given by Business Link advisors. Many proven business models exist in the franchise market; so is this the best route for those embarking on their new voyage?

Well – it could be. The figures speak for themselves;  

For every new business that starts this year it is likely that only 43% will still be going in a year’s time and only 20% in 5 years time.This contrast with the fact that 87% of franchise operations return a profit in the first years trading!

With so many franchise offerings available covering virtually every business sector there really is something out there for everyone.

The research also shows that 20% of workers have changed or are considering a career change, 21% are looking for jobs that are more creative and fulfilling, while 15% of workers have started or are considering starting their own business as a direct result of the recession.

Julian Acquari, managing director of Monster UK and Ireland, says: “In many ways, career choices are some of the most defining decisions people make. In the face of economic uncertainty you might expect to see people stay entrenched in their current jobs and ride out the storm, but our research suggests that contrary to this the UK population who are currently working are in fact more open to career change than you would expect in the current climate.”

This opportunity takes advantage of a rapidly growing, high demand market sector (despite the downturn) which is receiving a lot of government attention and funding.

If you have been made redundant, are unsure of your future or just want a change of direction; then this could be the ideal opportunity for you!

This opportunity requires that you are good at building relationships with prospects (to gain business) and a good co-ordinator and manager of people.

With full training, excellent back up and support; you will manage a team of sports coaches to deliver much needed sports activities to schools (as part of the curriculum), after school and holiday clubs as well as benefitting from other lucrative revenue streams.

This opportunity is very “cashflow positive” generating a great net profit; building very quickly to in excess of £70k per annum and takes advantage of the government’s increased funding in the area of children’s fitness and obesity together with general fitness campaigns. This is a huge growth area with the government recently announcing £1.2bn in funding in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.

Contact us for more information.

Local Website Franchise

This Franchise opportunity involves running a local web site as part of a series of networked web sites focusing on individual towns, their local businesses, local events, local news and local attractions, creating a valuable resource for town residents and visitors to each town. This creates a powerful site for businesses to get noticed in the local area via the internet.

Our Client is expert at web site design and search engine optimisation and it is these skills that will enable local businesses to gain a dominant position in web site rankings when one of their prospects searches for the products and services they offer. This in turn should provide them with a marketing advantage over their competitors.

These sites offer local businesses a cost effective way to achieve a web presence and generate enquiries (even without having a web site).

The role of the Franchisee will be to develop their local area through networking, telemarketing and face to face sales opportunities, gaining subscriptions from local businesses from as little as £2.50 per week; with the most popular package at £5 per week.

A good Franchisee will be someone who is self motivated, entrepreneurial and seeking a challenge, They should have the ability to be good networkers, have sales or business development experience and want to build a long term business which produces residual income. Franchisees can work on a full or part time basis and this franchise could also be run alongside another business.

 Please contact us for more information